Apple Won't Hold Back iPhone 16 Release for Apple Intelligence [Report]

Apple won't hold back the release of new iPhone 16 models for Apple Intelligence features, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Typically, new iPhone models are announced and released in September; however, it's clear that Apple's new artificial intelligence features won't be ready by then. The company recently seeded some of the AI features to developers in an iOS 18.1 beta and other features aren't expected until next year.

In a newsletter to subscribers, Gurman predicts that Apple will not wait for these AI features to be ready before making its new hardware available to customers.


These days, Apple typically releases the iPhone in September. But it faces a similar conundrum. Apple Intelligence — a core feature of the iPhone 16 — won't be ready until October. This time, though, Apple is taking a different tack and won't hold back the new hardware until the services are ready. I'm told that the iPhone launch will occur around the same time as last year — a quick look at the calendar makes Sept. 10 a probable date — and users will need to upgrade their new hardware to iOS 18.1 in October to get rolling with Apple Intelligence.

Gurman notes that there is some precedent for launching notable features with a software update. ie. Portrait Mode on iPhone 7 Plus. Additionally, he points out that the first set of Apple Intelligence features aren't that impressive anyways, so their impact on purchasing decisions will be minimal. The more substantial upgrades like ChatGPT, Genmoji creator, and Siri app control aren't coming until later.

You can learn more about the upcoming Apple Intelligence features here:
● Apple Debuts 'Apple Intelligence' AI Features for iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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